Apparatus for weaving asbestos cloth



' May 24, 1921.

' 1,629,850 E. J. TRAINOR APPARATUS FOR WEAVING ASBESTOS CLOTH FiledOct. 11. 1922 Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,629,850 PATEN r OFFICE.

EDWARD J'. TRAINOR, COHOES, YORK, ASSIGNOR- TO ASBESTOS SPINNING ANDWEAVING-CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., 'A COBZEORATION OF NEW YORK.

ABPABATUS non wEAvmeAsBES os (morn.

Application filed October 11, 1922. Serial n. 593,684,

My invention relates to a method of and apparatus for weaving fabricshaving a wire warp and is particularly adaptedto fabrics in which theweft strands are not uniform but may differ widely in diameter I find myinvention of particular utillty 1n weav ing asbestos cloths having awire warp in which the diameter of the asbestos'weft strands variesbetween relatively wide'limits,

it being impossible to spin asbestos threads with the uniformityof'textiles, and in which it is desirable to secure as close as possiblea weave, in fabrics such as those intended for brake linings or filtercloths. I

In weaving fabrics of this character great difiiculty has beenexperienced in obtaining a close weave of the fabric, because of thefact that the wire warp strands do not conform readily to the curvatureof the weft, the warp strands in a closely woven fabric being obliged tobend sharply in opposite directions about adjoining weft strands, a

condition difticult if not impossible to secure in forms of loom and bythe methods with which I am familiar.

Owing to the variation in the diameter of the weft strands it isimpossible, if a closely woven fabric is to be'obtained, to advance thewarp at a predetermined uniform rate, and I have therefore devised afabric takeup mechanism which operates at a non-uniform rate and theadvance of which is dependent upon and varies with the diameter of theweft strands as the same are woven into the fabric.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention diagrammatically, itbeing'understood that it is applicable to a very large number ofdifferent looms, I have shown:

In Figure 1, a diagram of a 106m embodying my invention, including thework takeup mechanism referred to;

In Figure 2, a diagrammatic representation of a cross section of thefabric pro- 45 duced.

The loom may be of any suit-able construction having a roll 1 upon whichthe warp is wound, a whip roll 2 over which the warp passes, heddles 3and 4: of any suitable character engaging the upper and lower sheds 5and 6, a breast beam 7, and alay 8 operated by suitable mechanismillustrated diagrammatically at 9. It will be noted that the whip rollis located substantially above the level of the breast beam and that byreason, of this arrangement the upper shed 5 of the warp is alwayssubstantially looser than the lower shed 6, the lower shed beingpreferably maintained at a relatively high tension dependinguponthe'character of the warp wire. A shuttle 10 is caused to movebackward and forward between the strands of the warp in anysuitablemanner, leaving a we ft'strand which is moved into'positionby'the lay 8, The arrangement .of the lay with respe'ctto the work'11 issuch t'hatfthe movement of the lay is arrested by the bringing up of thestrand laid by the shuttle against the preceding strand of the warpshown at 12. The lay is preferably heavy enough and is driven withsufficient force so that the weft strand is driven with considerableforce against the wires of. the warp instead of being merely laid inposition in accordance with the usual practice.

This driving effort causes a sharp bending to as desired, the roll 13carrying the ratchet wheel 15 cooperating with the pawl 16 attached tosome stationary partof the machine. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 14 isthe bell crank 17 carrying at one end the weight 18 and connected withthe lay or other suitable moving part of the machine by means of aflexible connection such asthe chain 19. Bell crank 17 is adapted to beengaged with the ratchet wheel 15 by means 7 of pawl 20.

In the operation of the machine it will be understood that the tensionof the fabric tends to unroll'the roll 13, but is prevented from sodoing by the engagement of the pawl and ratchet 15 and 16. The weight iselevated by throwing the bell crank about the shaft 14 during thebackward movement of the lay and is held in the elevated position shownin Fig. 1 by means of the engagement of pawl 20 with the ratchet 15. Theweight of weight 18 is so regulated that in. the position ilustrated itcauses no movement of the fabric. When, however, the

lay moves forward, driving a weft strand into position as describedabove, the work is by the driving effort relieved of its tension andunder the influence of the weight moves forward a distance determined bythe thickness of the weft strand. The nomentum acquired by the weight inthis'inovement tends to tighten the work to the des red tension. It mustbe seen that the distance fabric roll 13 is moved in each step isdetermined by the thickness of the weft thread and that the weight isbrought into action by the driving effort of the lay against thefinished fabric. v

While I have only described one form of my invention, it will beunderstood that many modifications may be made without departing fromits spirit. I therefore do not intend 'to confine myself to theparticular modification shown and described.

hat I claim is:

In a loom of the character describech a fabric take-up comprising afabric roll, a ratchet secured to said fabric roll,- a pawl engagingsaid ratchet whereby to prevent rotation of said fabric roll undertension of the fabric, a bell-crank connected to and oscillatable aboutsaid fabric roll and provided with a weight at one end thereof, a lay, aflexible connectionbetween said lay and the other end of said hellcrankand apawl secured to said be1l-crank and engaging said ratchet to rotatethe latter and said fabric roll forwardly upon the lowering of saidweight.

In testimony whereof, Iha've signed my name to this specification this2d day of October, 1922.

EDWARD J. TRAINOR;

